Syrian army retakes 3 towns in southern region amid ongoing offensive

The Syrian army on Wednesday recaptured three towns from the rebels in southern Syria, as part of the wide-scale onslaught it has waged since Sunday in that part of the war-torn country.

The towns of Dair Maker, Talet al-Arus, and Talet Sarjeh in the southern province of Darra fell to the government troops on Wednesday, local press said, adding that the army is pushing forward under heavy fire cover.

The Syrian troops have unleashed a wide-scale offensive against radical militant groups in the southern provinces of Daraa and Qunaitera since last Sunday.

The pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said the Syrian troops' offensive in Qunitara aims at recapturing the borderline separating that province from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, after the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and likeminded groups seized control of large swathes of the borderline.

The army forces are also fighting "ferocious battles" in the countryside of Daraa, capturing several towns during the full-blown offensive.

The state news agency SANA also reported Tuesday that the areas between the countryside of the capital Damascus, Qunaitera and Daraa are witnessing a massive offensive the Syrian army has waged against the rebels there, adding that tens of "terrorists" were killed, including field commanders.

Meanwhile, other local media reports said the Syrian army has received "clear orders" to decisively deal with the rebel-held areas in southern Syria.

Al-Mayadeen said people in Daraa are helping the Syrian government forces, by informing them with the positions of the rebel groups in several areas there.

Military experts said the operation in the southern region has strategic significance, as the army is attempting to recapture strategic points the Nusra Front and other radical groups had seized control of in the past few months.

Experts said the military operation aims to end the threats of the rebels in the countryside of Daraa, near the Jordanian borders, and in Qunaitera, on the borders with Israel.

The army puts the southern region in the top of its priority to cut the rebel supply lines and to weaken the Nusra and likeminded groups in Daraa and Qunaitera, according to military experts.

Experts also said that the presence of the radical rebels in both provinces poses a threat to the capital, which is only 100 km away from either one of them.

In an interview published Tuesday, President Bashar al-Assad stressed that his country has taken the decision to fight terrorism since the beginning of the conflict nearly four years ago. Endit